Manchester United ‘eyeing move for potential David de Gea replacement’
Manchester United ‘looking at move for Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht’ with the 20-year-old a potential successor to David de Gea despite the Spaniard ‘agreeing to a new deal’
Manchester United are reportedly considering a transfer of highly regarded young Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht.
The goalkeeping situation at Old Trafford has been hotly debated in recent weeks, with David de Gea’s contract with the club due to expire this summer.
De Gea’s place in the starting eleven has been called into question following recent mistakes in United’s Europa League exit to Sevilla, as well as his costly mistake in the 1-0 defeat to West Ham.
However. reports have suggested the 32-year-old has agreed a contract extension in which he would accept a pay cut from his current wages of £350,000 a week.
The Manchester evening news have now reported that United are interested in signing 20-year-old Verbruggen – who made his debut with Vincent Kompany two years ago.
Manchester United are considering a transfer of young Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen
Verbruggen could be seen as a potential replacement for David de Gea who made some high-profile mistakes in recent weeks
Verbruggen played 31 times for Anderlecht and got his first call-up for the Dutch squad last month, when he was on the bench for their European Championship qualifying victory in Gibraltar.
While De Gea is likely to extend his stay at Old Trafford, it seems unlikely that he will remain United’s number one for as long as his new contract runs out.
The possible addition of Verbruggen could be the sort of asset to start the process of phasing out De Gea as their first-choice keeper.
De Gea is not considered good enough with his feet to play manager Erik ten Hag’s preferred style of football.
No one has more clean sheets in the Premier League this season than him, but he has made some mistakes.
De Gea is likely to sign a new contract with United, although he could lose his starting place
All three of United’s goals conceded in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Sevilla came from Gea’s errors, while their recent 1-0 defeat to West Ham also stemmed from goalkeeping error.
United are hunting David Raya as a possible replacement between the sticks and may be planning to keep his fellow Spaniard as a key squad member and backup goalkeeper.
The Red Devils squad also includes Jack Butland and Tom Heaton, while Dean Henderson returns to the club at the end of the season following his loan spell at Nottingham Forest – although he is likely to leave.
